Oklahoma Elementary Students Gear Up For Testing

Thousands of elementary students have a big day ahead for the start of Oklahoma Core Curriculum testing.

Last year was a fiasco, and school leaders are assuring this year won't be a problem.

The testing system crashed in 2014, causing many students to start their test over.

The stakes are high for the tests, and in many cases, the student's score will determine whether they'll be promoted to the next grade.

With a new company in charge of testing, the students should be able to focus on the test.

All year long students across Oklahoma have studied.

"Teachers work with the students on test prep strategies on how to take a test and what to do if you come across a question you don't know the answer," Erin Lester, Tulsa Public Schools.

They have spent hours of class time and preparation to sit in front of a monitor for that test doesn't prepare you for the technical issues that could follow.

In previous years, a server overload caused the testing system to crash. As a result, many tests had to be thrown out .

Lester said this year will be different.

The new testing service company, Measured Progress, has shown promise.

“In the winter we didn't experience any types of computer difficulties like we had with the previous test company," she said.

Lester said there's a safety net built into the system. She says when students take the test online, the answers are stored locally on the computer. So if the students are online when they hit submit, their answers are sent to the test company.

“Now if at any time if the computer crashes or the internet connectivity is lost if that computer is restarted and the testing icon is relaunched then that students answers will be sent to the test company."

She says these tests are state mandated, so with less trouble administering them, the better students can perform.

“We do want our students to do well," Lester said.

If you have a child gearing up to take the test, school representatives urge parents to make sure children a good night's rest and a good breakfast before the test.

The testing window will extend through the beginning of May.